Former Goa RSS chief goes 'absconding' after FIR over remarks on St Francis Xavier
Panaji: Goa Police have stated that Subhash Velingkar, the former Goa unit chief of the RSS, is currently "absconding" after an FIR was registered against him for his remarks on St Francis Xavier, triggering widespread protests across the state. Raids are being conducted to trace his whereabouts.
The FIR was lodged at North Goa’s Bicholim police station on Friday night based on a complaint filed by AAP MLA Cruz Silva. According to the FIR, the accused, with "malicious intentions," made a speech that allegedly outraged the religious feelings and insulted the beliefs of the complainant, his religious community, and others.
Following Velingkar’s statement calling for a "DNA test" of the relics of St Francis Xavier, revered as the patron saint of Goa, at least half a dozen complaints were filed against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and disrupting communal harmony. The FIR has been registered under section 299 of BNS (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
Protests erupted on Friday, with over 300 people, including leaders from Congress and AAP, gathering outside the police station in Margao, demanding Velingkar's arrest. On Saturday, protesters blocked roads in Margao, Anjuna, and Old Goa, prompting the police to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. The protesters issued an ultimatum, threatening to block the Zuari Bridge if the accused is not arrested soon.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appealed for calm and urged people not to block roads. “Whatever action was taken [in the case] against Fr Bolmax [Pereira], similar action will be applied for Velingkar,” said Sawant.
Fr Bolmax Pereira, the parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim, was booked last year for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during a sermon.
The Congress party released a statement emphasising the importance of maintaining Goa’s unique identity of communal harmony and urged the government to preserve this "sensitive fabric" of peace and respect. BJP Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo also criticised Velingkar, stating, “St Francis Xavier is a saint revered by people from all religions. People like Velingkar make such statements just to gain limelight and create rifts between communities.”
Velingkar was previously removed from the RSS in 2016. As of now, the police are continuing their efforts to locate him.Former Goa RSS chief goes 'absconding' after FIR over remarks on St Francis Xavier
Panaji: Goa Police have stated that Subhash Velingkar, the former Goa unit chief of the RSS, is currently "absconding" after an FIR was registered against him for his remarks on St Francis Xavier, triggering widespread protests across the state. Raids are being conducted to trace his whereabouts.
The FIR was lodged at North Goa’s Bicholim police station on Friday night based on a complaint filed by AAP MLA Cruz Silva. According to the FIR, the accused, with "malicious intentions," made a speech that allegedly outraged the religious feelings and insulted the beliefs of the complainant, his religious community, and others.
Following Velingkar’s statement calling for a "DNA test" of the relics of St Francis Xavier, revered as the patron saint of Goa, at least half a dozen complaints were filed against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and disrupting communal harmony. The FIR has been registered under section 299 of BNS (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
Protests erupted on Friday, with over 300 people, including leaders from Congress and AAP, gathering outside the police station in Margao, demanding Velingkar's arrest. On Saturday, protesters blocked roads in Margao, Anjuna, and Old Goa, prompting the police to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. The protesters issued an ultimatum, threatening to block the Zuari Bridge if the accused is not arrested soon.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appealed for calm and urged people not to block roads. “Whatever action was taken [in the case] against Fr Bolmax [Pereira], similar action will be applied for Velingkar,” said Sawant.
Fr Bolmax Pereira, the parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim, was booked last year for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during a sermon.
The Congress party released a statement emphasising the importance of maintaining Goa’s unique identity of communal harmony and urged the government to preserve this "sensitive fabric" of peace and respect. BJP Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo also criticised Velingkar, stating, “St Francis Xavier is a saint revered by people from all religions. People like Velingkar make such statements just to gain limelight and create rifts between communities.”
Velingkar was previously removed from the RSS in 2016. As of now, the police are continuing their efforts to locate him.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
